roundup-ipadmini According to market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), production levels for the expected upcoming iPad mini with Retina display indicate that the device may not ship alongside the upcoming iPad 5, which looks to be "on schedule" for an October release. Specifically, it is estimated that Apple's Asia-based supply chain of manufacturers have begun the start of Retina iPad mini display production, but have not entered a mass production stage of the upcoming tablet.

While Apple's iPad 5 looks to be on schedule for an October release, that's not the case for the Retina version of the Mini, according to Rhoda Alexander, director of Tablet and Monitor Research at IHS iSuppli.

"The Retina Mini looks less certain for that time. Manufacturing volumes on that would match better with a Q114 [first quarter 2014] launch," she told CNET.

Though she quickly qualified that saying, "But given that it's Apple, one never knows" -- meaning that Apple could announce a product but not necessarily ship it at the same time as the iPad 5.

The research firm also cites design challenges, stating that a trade-off between the integration of the Retina display and the compact size and exceptional battery life of the iPad mini has become problematic. The claim does conflict with a report from IHS iSuppli last month stating that Retina iPad mini production levels were set to match last year's levels. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also claimed earlier this month that the Retina iPad mini will indeed make an appearance before the end of the year.

Apple is expected to launch its redesigned iPad and a Retina iPad mini in the near future, perhaps at a media event as soon as next month. The company is also expected to make several updates to its Mac products before the end of the year, and they may make an appearance at that same event.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

netnothing Avatar
150 months ago
Apple really needs to step up their game in the 7" tablet market. It's almost embarrassing how tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX both have gorgeous screens compared to the mini.

iPad Mini:
Height: 7.87 inches
Width: 5.3 inches
Depth: 0.28 inch
Weight: 308 g
Display: 1024 x 768 (163 ppi)

Kindle Fire HDX:
Height: 7.3 inches
Width: 5.0 inches
Depth: 0.35 inch
Weight: 303 g
Display: 1920 x 1200 (323 ppi)

Nexus 7:
Height: 7.874 inches
Width: 4.488 inches
Depth: 0.34 inch
Weight: 290 g
Display: 1920 x 1200 (323 ppi)


Yeah I know....ecosystem, blah blah....but still. If I want to read.....I can do that on all and trust me, text looks better on 2 of the 3 listed.

I'll gladly give up 0.07 inches to get Retina.
-Kevin
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
netnothing Avatar
150 months ago
AnandTech got 12 hours battery life on the new Nexus 7. Not a valid excuse.

The standard Apple excuses like battery life are quickly being beaten by their competitors. Right now the only thing Apple has to tout is the ecosystem.....which is what we saw in the mini keynote last year. Apps being designed for iPads as opposed to phone apps in Android.

-Kevin
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xNYMetsx Avatar
150 months ago
Apple's only hurting themselves by not releasing a retina iPad mini. They've had more than a year to figure it out. Pathetic.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gibbz Avatar
150 months ago
Why do we even listen to analysts anymore? This sounds like someone who is simply talking in broad strokes because they have no idea what is going to happen.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
150 months ago
I've got to imagine that using a lock passcode on iPads is WAAAY less common than on a phone. Plus with the iPad cover......it bypasses the slide to unlock screen anyway.

Can't see Apple adding Touch ID and then selling an accessory to negate it.

-Kevin

Huh? Smart Cover doesn't unlock your device, it just wakes it from sleep. If you're using a passcode you still have to enter it.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
150 months ago
9to5mac has pictures of the mini with Touch ID (and the champagne color) in today's article, but no mention of retina. I don't believe retina will come on the mini this year. I strongly believe Apple is holding out on that for another year..

http://9to5mac.com/2013/09/27/chinese-site-shows-two-photos-of-claimed-gold-ipad-mini-2-with-touch-id/comment-page-1/#comment-146853

Why on earth would Apple add A7/M7, Touch ID and 1GB RAM but no retina? Especially when iOS 7 was designed with retina in mind? And how does it make good business sense to hold out on retina another year when cheaper tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire are shipping with retina like displays?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Expected Next Week - Here Are the Release Notes

Friday March 28, 2025 2:01 pm PDT by
With the second release candidate of iOS 18.4 that Apple seeded out today, the company finally provided us with release notes that give a full rundown on what to expect. There's an Apple Vision Pro app, new Apple Intelligence features for notifications and additional language support, plus an Apple News Food feature for Apple News+ subscribers, and several updates that should improve the...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

Friday March 28, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things. Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple ...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
Facebook Feature

Facebook's New iPhone App Feature Turns the Clock Back to 2007

Thursday March 27, 2025 1:59 pm PDT by
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Facebook was all about staying connected with friends and family. However, as the social media platform added new features and grew over time, that core experience began to get drowned out. That changes starting now, according to Meta, which today introduced a new feature that will "bring back the joy" of classic Facebook. Specifically, Meta has redesigned the...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

iPhone Foldable Display Said to Feature iPad-Style 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Friday March 28, 2025 3:44 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming "iPhone Fold" will feature a foldable screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, according to a Chinese leaker who previously leaked the book-style device's display dimensions. The Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station claims that Apple will adopt a "roughly" 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display in order to achieve consistency between the outer display, as well as to ensure parity...